The Roots
The Roots project is structured to engage participants in the unique installation of a network composed of sculptural elements made from natural fibers. Designed collectively in space, each installation is an open structure that evokes the transmission of information and the interconnectedness of life. Participants are immersed in an interactive and tactile world of fiber-based sculptural artworks while being guided through a series of carefully designed activities intended to inspire reflection on the environment, as well as the complex social and mental landscapes of our contemporary world. These activities unfold in multiple stages, leading to the creation of an original sculptural installation reflecting the vision and energy of the group.
As an interactive kinetic sculpture, The Roots challenges our perception of reality and stimulates our senses by offering a three-dimensional, immersive, dynamic, and physical experience. It connects mind and body, actively encourages creative thinking, and integrates epistemological reflections on how individuals are embedded in a network of interdependencies. The artwork thus questions the universal bonds that form collective balance, illustrating the intricate web of invisible relationships that shape our interactions and perception of the world.
The Roots employs a complex set of interwoven sculptural elements, some of which were initially developed with diverse communities through social art projects before being integrated into installations, workshops, and performances in schools, universities, and both alternative and traditional performance spaces. The collaborative and evolving nature of the work highlights how human networks are built, transformed, and adapted, echoing the organic and social dynamics that govern our existence.
Far from being a static installation, The Roots creates an experimental space where participants become fully active in shaping their environment. Through their interaction, they influence the structure and movement of the artwork, materializing the notion of a constantly evolving network. The installation thus becomes a living metaphor for the complex systems underpinning our societies, offering a profound reflection on how each individual, through their actions and choices, contributes to the balance and cohesion of the whole.
During the summer of 2015 The Roots fiber sculpture was central to a series of workshops focused on movement and creativity that were organized by Muriel Maffre for the Alonzo King Lines Ballet Summer Workshop Series. The experimental moments that resulted from the dancers' unexpected encounters with the material led to fascinating, engaging, and thought-provoking moments as the dancers sought to understand the fiber sculpture and explore its properties, and to engage with a number of activities, questions, and challenges that were presented to them. Questions such as how might The Roots be manifested as an extension of oneself, and how might the roots be used to shape an environment, generated numerous thoughtful reflections and studied interpretations, and contributed to the ever-increasing range of social moments that have defined The Roots' energy.